ERIC NIXON - the goalkeeping coach with the elastic playing career - is preparing to stretch to yet another comeback appearance in Tranmere Rovers' senior starting line-up this weekend.

ERIC NIXON - the goalkeeping coach with the elastic playing career - is preparing to stretch to yet another comeback appearance in Tranmere Rovers' senior starting line-up this weekend.

The 39-year-old may be pressed into first-team action in the final game of the Division Two campaign on Saturday when Tranmere take on Cardiff City at Prenton Park.

Injuries to senior keepers John Achterberg and Joe Murphy have put Nixon back in the spotlight, where he is happiest.

Dutchman Achterberg can play no further part in Tranmere's season after suffering a calf injury in the 2-2 draw with Reading 10 days ago.

And Irish under-21 international Murphy is rated as doubtful for the coming weekend after damaging ankle ligaments in the act of saving a penalty in Tranmere's 2-1 defeat at Cambridge last Saturday.

Murphy's misfortune enabled substitute Nixon to make a 12-minute cameo at the Abbey Stadium which was his 436th first-team appearance for Tranmere since he first arrived at Prenton Park in 1988.

Watson said last night: "It will be touch and go whether Joe will be fit for the weekend.

He will be under treatment for most of the week and we will leave a decision as late as possible.

"Eric is on standby. He trained well this morning and hopefully he'll look after himself for the rest of the week. He is still very enthusiastic about playing.

"He played for the reserves last week because we knew he would be needed on the bench at Cambridge. He played very well in that.

"He still has good qualities as a goalkeeper. He can still break a few hearts on the training ground when people try to fire goals past him."

Nixon's brief and untroubled appearance at Cambridge was not his first taste of league football this season. Earlier in the campaign he played three games for third division Kidderminster Harriers on a non-contract loan to help out manager Jan Molby in an emergency.

Much to the delight of Molby, Nixon kept a couple of clean sheets and won widespread praise for his performances and organisation of the Kidderminster's defence.

Nixon's last appearance in Rovers' starting line-up was in a first division fixture at Huddersfield in January 2000. He was beaten only once in a 1-0 defeat.

However, he played more than half a game as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Norwich in April 2000.

His long list of clubs he has served since he began his professional career with Manchester City are, in chronological order: Manchester City, Wolves (loan), Bradford City (loan), Southampton (loan), Carlisle (loan), Tranmere (loan, then permanent signing), Blackpool (loan), Bradford City (loan for a second time), Stockport County (permanent signing), Wigan Athletic (short term contract), Tranmere Rovers (as goalkeeping coach and cover goalkeeper), Kidderminster Harriers (loan).

Meanwhile, Watson drew encouragement from news that there may be a compromise between the Football League and ITV Digital over the broadcasting contract.

ITV's improved offer to pay #100million (out of #178m originally pledged over the next two seasons) is to be put to the clubs this week.

Watson said: "It's a move in the right direction. Hopefully some agreement can be made that will be acceptable to the clubs.

"All of the clubs are in the same boat about planning for next season at the moment. So as soon as a decision is made we shall have a better idea of what we can and can't do."

Watson and chairman Lorraine Rogers must make decisions over players whose contracts run out in the summer. An official announcement about which of those players will be offered new terms is not expected until after the division two campaign has run its course.

Some individuals, however, have already signalled their intention to leave Prenton Park.

Paul Rideout is departing to take up a coaching position in America and captain Clint Hill has said his farewells after playing his final game at Cambridge. Suspension rules him out of Saturday's finale.